Book excerpt: BOOKS THAT TURN CHILDREN INTO LIFE-LONG READERS! Most children want to read a book because it's about something they love or are curious about--dinosaurs, magic tricks, ballerinas, sports, secret codes, and a host of other topics. Now with this unique book, Kathleen Odean, current chair of the Newberry Award committee and author of Great Books for Girls and Great Books for Boys, makes it easy for parents and teachers to satisfy a child's individual cravings for good reading on any subject. Inside you'll discover ¸ More than 750 books divided into 55 categories, from Airplanes to Zoos ¸ Professional appraisals that are balanced, intelligent, and fun to read ¸ Stimulating book-related activities and helpful tips for parents Whether the format is picture book, poetry, fiction, or nonfiction, here are wonderful selections like Why Does the Cat Do That? and Exploring the Titanic . . . tried and true characters, from the beloved aardvarks Arthur and D.W. to the hilarious Junie B. Jones and the courageous Harry Potter . . . new heroes and heroines to cheer for such as Katherine Paterson's Princess Miranda from The Wide-Awake Princess and the exciting Jack Black from Jack Black and the Ship of Thieves by Carol Hughes. Great Books About Things Kids Love creates a book-rich environment in which the habit of reading can take hold and flourish for a lifetime. From the Trade Paperback edition.